Assam: 'Raijor Dal' State Convenor Manuj Gogoi arrested in Sivasagar, big blow for party

Sivasagar: Manuj Gogoi, the State Convenor of the newly-floated regional party 'Raijor Dal' (people's party), was arrested on Sunday night along with three associates for allegedly threatening and abusing truckers in Sivasagar district's Gaurisagar.

According to an FIR lodged at the Gaurisagar Police Station -- Manuh Gogoi along with his 3 associates -- Udipta Bora, Parag Borgohain, and Bidyut Chetia -- stopped a truck and threatened truckers. Taking quick action, the police of Gaurisagar sprung into action and arrested the politician and his associates. Manuj Gogoi is also an advisor of the regional organization 'Asompremi Yuba Chatra Samaj.'

It needs mention here that the two latest regional parties -- 'Raijor Dal' and 'Asom Jatiya Parishad' -- have come into the political equation ahead of the 2021 polls in Assam.

While the 'Raijor Dal' has the backing of the Akhil Gogoi-led Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), the Asom Jatiya Parishad (AJP) is under the aegis of the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) and the Asom Jatiya Yuba Chhatra Parishad (AJYCP). Notably, all these organizations played a significant role in the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act protests that rocked Assam at the end of last year.

Both these new parties have been heavily criticized by the members of the ruling coalition. While BJP Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma says that these parties will be able to secure 700-1,000 votes at best, AGP leader Atul Bora said that his party's vote share shall not be affected -- irrespective of whether these parties fight the polls unitedly or separately.

The Congress, on the other hand, is said to be in talks with these parties and wants them to be a part of its 'maha gathbandhan' (grand alliance). The Grand Old Party's Assam State President Ripun Bora admitted in front of scribes that the party is indeed looking forward to bring these new regional parties into its fold.

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